Families come first with MCCS program

Monday

The Marine Corps’ latest mental health initiative is targeting the stresses of family life to prevent or respond to child abuse, child neglect and domestic violence.

The Marine Corps’ latest mental health initiative is targeting the stresses of family life to prevent or respond to child abuse, child neglect and domestic violence.

The Family Advocacy Program — a program recently shifted from the Navy into the purview of the Marine Corps, becoming the Corps’ responsibility this summer — has formed alliances with the Onslow Women’s Center, Social Services, base and Onslow County schools and both military and civilian law enforcement agencies to identify domestic violence offenders and victims and refer them for proper treatment. Armed with a variety of clinical specialties, the behavioral health teams under Marine Corps Community Services investigate allegations, identify available resources and provide therapeutic intervention if requested. Once an offender is identified, they receive mandated counseling within the program.

When the program receives a report from any of its sources that involves a service member, whether they are the victim or offender, the command is immediately notified. Once the command is contacted by a victim advocate, the program investigates the allegations and assists all involved by giving them whatever resources they may need whether it be for physical or emotions issues or assistance in getting into a shelter. The investigation conducted by the program cannot be used to punitively punish a Marine or sailor, which means the service member’s command must conduct its own investigation.

“The primary concern of the victim advocate is safety,” said Janice Kight, a licensed clinical social worker and victim advocate with the program. “We identify if there is an imminent risk and whether the victim needs to be taken to a safe place. The key is to assess safety issues, establish military protection orders if they are necessary and if we can, get the victim whatever assistance they need.”

By contacting the victim advocate first, the victim has more options, said Kight, who added that there is both a restricted and unrestricted option for reporting.

With a restricted report, the victim’s command is notified but is not given specifics such as the victim’s name. Law enforcement, according to Kight is also not involved. Also within a restricted report, the victim maintains access to medical resources whether they are for physical or mental injuries.

“Based on their immediate intervention, the victim advocate enables the victim to do whatever they feel necessary in their given situation,” said Dr. Jennifer Prince, the MCCS behavioral health program manager and a licensed marriage and family therapist. “By the victim doing an unrestricted report and having the command and law enforcement involved, often times they feel re-traumatized, which is something that can be avoided if they seek assistance from a victim advocate.”

With an unrestricted report, the service member’s command is notified and is allowed to intervene and investigate the allegations. As with a restricted report, the victim is still entitled to medical care.

All uniformed and civilian employees within the Department of Defense are mandated to report any and all allegations of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. If a report comes from someone other than a victim, a report must be unrestricted.

“The victim advocate talks to those involved and discusses their rights so they can make informed decisions,” Kight said. “While our services sound like something negative because of the issues we confront, it is a treatment and prevention program. We are here to improve the quality of life for our service members and increase safety for their family.”

The victim advocate, Prince said, is the most important piece of the puzzle because they establish the trust and are responsible for providing the resources that person deems necessary.

In situations where immediate medical attention is needed in order to save the victim’s life, reporting may be limited to an unrestricted report, she said. The whole goal, according to Prince, is a “collaborative community response,” meaning all available assets, at the request of the victim, are utilized to assist victims in whatever ways they deem necessary.

The program, according to Prince, also conducts case studies where resources from the community and from aboard the base are brought in to discuss the case and decide which services or treatments will benefit the victim and the offender the most. The options are then presented to the victim, who has the choice of which he or she would like to take part in.

“We’ve worked hard to make this a community effort both on and off the installation,” Prince said. “We don’t work in a vacuum at all. It’s all about the victims and everybody is on board to give them the care they deserve.”

To contact the Family Advocacy Program aboard Camp Lejeune, contact 910-449-9563 or visit mccslejeune.com/fap. To utilize the Domestic Violence Hotline, call 910-376-5675.